Just a quick question for people who know more about tires than me. Assuming that these tires were stored properly, would there be any potential problems buying a set of 4 year old Nittos that are designed and destined for track days? Thanks in advance.

 

Tires naturally degrade over time, but a quick call to Nitto technical help (use google to find your local number) will be your best bet. That phone call will be worth more than a hundred opinions and will be able to account for the actual model of tire that you haven't specified. You will also want to know the manufacture date - not the purchase date. Some tires can already be a couple years old when they are sold. Even if they say the tire is currently okay but on its last leg, consider how long you'll plan on using them, too.

 

For a street tire, I wouldn't be too concerned. But for a track tire, I would be hesitant. Most track tires wear out/heat cycle out long before they age out.

You don't know how the tires were stored, and you don't know the manufacture date.

I believe there is a 4 digit code on the tire, with the first 2 digits the year and the last two the week of that year. So for example, 0902 would be 2009, 2nd week.

Regards,
Jerry

 

Thanks, guys. I do know the manufacture date; 4 years ago. Pretty sure Nitto would say buy a new set as it is to their benefit to sell more units. I plan to use these tires for around 10 track days; that's how long they typically last.

 

It's in Nitto's best interest to not make the tire look bad either, so I would suspect an honest answer that errs on the safe side. Either way, I doubt you'll get anyone saying they'll be golden

 

Which Nitto tire?

There are many reasons why a tire can change with use and time and become harder. This is critical when it comes to race or track tires as you want it to be sticky for better traction but also somewhat durable to last a little longer.

For four year old race tires don't expect the best performance on grip and don't expect them to last with a good level of performance for very long.

You may find that initially since the rubber is a little aged and harder it takes a few laps to warm up for better grip- not really a problem as you can take it easy and let the tires warm up.

With each heat cycle (tire warms up then cools down) you get some aging of the tire and eventually the tires get so hard as to be useless for track duty. You may not get as many good heat cycles out of an older tire.

If you tend to cord your tires before you heat cycle them then I would say it is possible to use older tires and let them wear out. If you conserve rubber and tend never to cord but to use the tires until they no longer offer good grip then no, start with new tires and use them wisely.

 

That is great info, Minihune. I tend to conserve rubber and use them until the grip is gone, so I will pass on these tires. By the way, we're talking about the Nitto NT01. Thanks for the great response!

 

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=138

The current industry association recommendations regarding inspecting and replacing tires due to age originate outside the United States.

The British Rubber Manufacturers Association (BRMA) recommended practice, issued June, 2001, states, "BRMA members strongly recommend that unused tyres should not be put into service if they are over six years old and that all tyres should be replaced ten years from the date of their manufacture."

 

Thanks, Capt. BJ. I value your opinion on this board, as well as on MiniMania. Those numbers sound reasonable to me, so maybe I will give this set a second look. The savings are significant.

 

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but all I'm doing is pointing you to a source that I believe to have 'good juju' !!

PERSONALLY ...

On the 'classic' I replace the tires at 6 years (garage kept btw) ..... I start to worry about dry cracks at this point even tho thread wear is seldom an issue.

On my current dd, which is approaching 5 years old, I am observing a change in tire 'behavior' which I might attribute to age and things getting brittle.

My current dd is a Focus ST and it has Goodyear Eagle F1 and these have a 'rim protector' lip. I've used a local car wash with this car for years (don't judge me ... a surgery made washing the car myself difficult for a couple of years). I never had a problem until recently when the 'rim protector' started getting ripped off the tire in the car wash ... it came off in chunks ..... on the left front which rides the guide rail thru the wash ....

Aged tires becoming brittle?????

 

I always wear out the tires on my Classic well before 6 years go by! Sorry to hear about your surgery; no judgement on using a car wash. This place is like Planet Fitness: Judgement Free Zone! I spoke with a couple of mechanics who have worked on my cars, and both said that as long as the tires were stored under the proper conditions, they would have no qualms about using them on the track.